Abstract: A method includes: receiving, in an electronic device having a trackpad, a force signal that a force sensor of the trackpad generates based on a user input at the trackpad; receiving, in the electronic device, a touch signal that a touch sensor of the trackpad generates based on the user input; selecting, by the electronic device and based on at least one of the force signal or the touch signal, a first driver signal waveform from among multiple driver signal waveforms applicable to an actuator coupled to the trackpad; scaling, by the electronic device, the first driver signal waveform into a second driver signal waveform, the scaling based on at least one of the force signal or the touch signal; and generating, by the electronic device, a haptic output in response to the user input by providing the second driver signal waveform to the actuator.

Abstract: An electronic device including an actuator and a driving circuit electrically coupled to the actuator. The driving circuit can be configured to determine a resonance frequency of the actuator and deliver a driving frequency matching the resonance frequency to the actuator, as well as a driving voltage. The electronic device also includes a memory and a processor. The processor can determine the presence of a force applied to the electronic device based on the resonance frequency of the actuator. Based on determining a force is being applied to the electronic device, the processor can execute a predetermined function of the electronic device.

Abstract: A method includes: placing a first physical object at each of a first plurality of locations on a trackpad; while the first object is at each of the first plurality of locations, registering respective first readings from each of a second plurality of force sensors of the trackpad, the first plurality greater than the second plurality; selecting a first plurality of sensitivity parameters for the trackpad based at least in part on the first readings; and providing the first plurality of sensitivity parameters to force sensing circuitry of the trackpad, the force sensing circuitry coupled to the second plurality of force sensors.

Abstract: The technology provides for an electronic device with gesture detection. In this regard, the device may include a housing, and one or more sensors positioned along an inner periphery of the housing. The sensors may be adapted to detect user interaction with an outer surface of the housing. The device may further include one or more processors in communication with the plurality of sensors. The one or more processors may be configured to determine the user interaction and to determine a type of gesture based on the detected user interaction, determine a type of input command based on the determined gesture, and execute a task corresponding to the determined type of input command.

Abstract: An amplitude of a braking portion of a waveform of a driving voltage signal for a linear resonant actuator can be determined. A measure of a characteristic of the linear resonant actuator can be obtained. The characteristic can be different from a quality factor of the linear resonant actuator. The quality factor can be determined based on the measure of the characteristic. The amplitude of the braking portion of the waveform of the driving voltage signal can be determined based on the quality factor. Data for a driving voltage signal circuitry can be set, based on the amplitude, to cause the driving voltage circuitry to produce the driving voltage signal. The driving voltage signal can have (e.g., define) the waveform in which the braking portion has the amplitude.

Abstract: A method includes a processor of an electronic device receiving first input signals from a first sensor in response to user contact at a first edge of the device and second input signals from a second sensor in response to user contact at a second edge of the electronic device. The first and second sensors are covered by a housing of the device. The processor determines an external context of the device based on analysis of the first input signals and the second input signals. The determined external context indicates at least a position of the device relative to a user or an orientation of the device relative to a user. Responsive to determining the external context, the electronic device executes a particular user input action.

Abstract: A case for a mobile device that can include a piezoelectric component that is configured to output current in response to external pressure applied to the case, a switch between a near-field communication (NFC) antenna and an NFC circuit, and a controller that is configured to be powered by the current from the piezoelectric component to open the switch after an amount of time during which the switch is closed after the external pressure stops being applied to the case.

Abstract: Techniques for managing notifications may be described. In an example, the notifications may relate to an item and may be provided to a user device. An active device may be associated with the item. The active device may store a token for communication with a local area network associated with a location. Based on the communication, a determination may be made that the item may be in proximity to the location. Corresponding notifications may be sent to the user device.

Abstract: A case for a mobile device that can include a piezoelectric component that is configured to output current in response to external pressure applied to the case, a switch between a near-field communication (NFC) antenna and an NFC circuit, and a controller that is configured to be powered by the current from the piezoelectric component to open the switch after an amount of time during which the switch is closed after the external pressure stops being applied to the case.

Abstract: A trackpad includes: a substrate; a circuit board coupled to the substrate for detecting a position of an object adjacent the substrate; a haptic feedback component coupled to the circuit board; a first plate coupled to the circuit board; a second plate including a spring element, a spacer coupling the circuit board and the spring element to each other, the spring element facilitating first movement of the substrate, the circuit board and the first plate relative to the second plate, the spacer facilitating second movement of at least the substrate and the circuit board by the haptic feedback component; and a capacitive force sensor that detects a capacitance of the first plate and the second plate. A trackpad can include a circuit board coupled to the substrate and including the first plate.

Abstract: An apparatus utilizes multiple strain gauge (“SG”) sensing units which are each disposed adjacent an inner surface of the device housing. Electrical voltage generated by the SGs is amplified by one or more amplifiers to maximize the resolution between a voltage output of an SG when in a non-pressed state and a voltage output of the SG when in a pressed state. Additionally, an electronic circuit is configured to identify a baseline voltage output for an SG over a period of time for comparing to a voltage output for the SG when the SG is in a pressed state such that the pressed state of the SG can be identified by the electronic circuit by comparing a current output voltage of the SG to the identified baseline voltage.

Abstract: A method includes a processor of an electronic device receiving first input signals from a first sensor in response to user contact at a first edge of the device and second input signals from a second sensor in response to user contact at a second edge of the electronic device. The first and second sensors are covered by a housing of the device. The processor determines an external context of the device based on analysis of the first input signals and the second input signals. The determined external context indicates at least a position of the device relative to a user or an orientation of the device relative to a user. Responsive to determining the external context, the electronic device executes a particular user input action.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described that provide an ultra-low power mode for a low-cost force-sensing device. These techniques extend battery life of the device by minimizing power consumption for potential wake-up events. To do this, a high-pass filter (e.g., differentiator) is used to evaluate sensor signals in a time domain to provide an estimate of a rate of change of the signal. When the rate of change of the signal deviates from a baseline value by a threshold amount, then a microcontroller is woken to evaluate a large number of historical samples, such as 200 or more milliseconds worth of historical data. If a human gesture is not recognized, then the microcontroller returns to an idle state, but if a human gesture is recognized, then a high-power application processor is woken to execute an application configured to perform an operation mapped to the human gesture.

Abstract: A method that includes employing several sensors associated with a handheld controller, where each of the sensors is made of one of a hover, touch, and force/pressure sensor, and generating, by one or more of the sensors, sensor data associated with the position of a user's hand and finger in relation to the handheld controller. The method continues with combining the sensor data from several sensors to form aggregate sensor data, sending the aggregate sensor data to a processor, and generating an estimated position of the user's hand and fingers based on the aggregate sensor data.

Abstract: Techniques for managing notifications may be described. In an example, the notifications may relate to an item and may be provided to a user device. An active device may be associated with the item. The active device may store a token for communication with a local area network associated with a location. Based on the communication, a determination may be made that the item may be in proximity to the location. Corresponding notifications may be sent to the user device.

Abstract: A trackpad includes: a substrate; a circuit board coupled to the substrate for detecting a position of an object adjacent the substrate, the circuit board including a first plate; a second plate including a spring element, wherein a spacer couples the circuit board and the spring element to each other, the spring element facilitating first movement of the substrate and the circuit board relative to the second plate; and a capacitive force sensor that detects a capacitance of the first plate and the second plate. A trackpad can include a spacer coupling the circuit board and the spring element to each other, and facilitating second movement of at least the substrate and the circuit board by a haptic feedback component.

Abstract: A trackpad includes: a substrate; a circuit board coupled to the substrate for detecting a position of an object adjacent the substrate; a haptic feedback component coupled to the circuit board; a first plate coupled to the circuit board; a second plate including a spring element, a spacer coupling the circuit board and the spring element to each other, the spring element facilitating first movement of the substrate, the circuit board and the first plate relative to the second plate, the spacer facilitating second movement of at least the substrate and the circuit board by the haptic feedback component; and a capacitive force sensor that detects a capacitance of the first plate and the second plate. A trackpad can include a circuit board coupled to the substrate and including the first plate.

Abstract: A method includes one or more processors of an electronic device receiving signals from multiple sensors located along an edge of the device. The signals are received in response to external contact being provided to the edge of the device. At least one processor determines a distribution of forces applied to the sensors based on the input signals. Based on the determined distribution of forces, the processor determines: i) a location of the external contact that is offset from a location of each of the multiple sensors, and ii) a magnitude of the force of the external contact. The processor detects whether sensing criteria has been satisfied based on an analysis of: i) the location of the external contact and ii) the magnitude of the force of the external contact. Responsive to detecting that sensing criteria has been satisfied, the processor executes a user input action.

Abstract: A trackpad includes: a substrate; a circuit board coupled to the substrate for detecting a position of an object adjacent the substrate, the circuit board including a first plate; a second plate including a spring element, wherein a spacer couples the circuit board and the spring element to each other, the spring element facilitating first movement of the substrate and the circuit board relative to the second plate; and a capacitive force sensor that detects a capacitance of the first plate and the second plate. A trackpad can include a spacer coupling the circuit board and the spring element to each other, and facilitating second movement of at least the substrate and the circuit board by a haptic feedback component.

Abstract: A trackpad includes: a substrate; a circuit board coupled to the substrate for detecting a position of an object adjacent the substrate; a haptic feedback component coupled to the circuit board; a first plate coupled to the circuit board; a second plate including a spring element, a spacer coupling the circuit board and the spring element to each other, the spring element facilitating first movement of the substrate, the circuit board and the first plate relative to the second plate, the spacer facilitating second movement of at least the substrate and the circuit board by the haptic feedback component; and a capacitive force sensor that detects a capacitance of the first plate and the second plate. A trackpad can include a circuit board coupled to the substrate and including the first plate.